The final round of the 2024 MotoGP season may well be in doubt after Spain’s Valencia region was hit this week with severe flash flooding that has tragically left over 50 people dead and caused extensive damage to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
The Spanish circuit is set to host what looks set to be the deciding round of the championship battle between title leader Jorge Martin and reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia in only two weeks’ time, but with the track and the surrounding area bearing the brunt of the recent extreme weather conditions, that may well be in doubt now.
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 30, 2024
Storms and flash flooding hit the south east of Spain on Tuesday, with over a year’s worth of rain falling in only hours according to the Spanish Weather Service. Local towns, including both Chiva and Cheste near the circuit, have been inundated with water and, tragically, at least 51 people have so far been confirmed as dead in the extreme weather conditions, with more still missing.
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE.
“We were trapped like rats. Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three metres.”
My god. Extreme damage to the main road into the circuit in Valencia, and the minimoto circuit is gone 😱 pic.twitter.com/iIDWADSZLK
— Simon Patterson (@denkmit) October 30, 2024
Nicolas Collado, general manager of the circuit, added: "The most important thing is that all the people who were at the Circuit are fine, everyone has been able to spend the night safely at the Circuit facilities.
"Now a damage assessment process begins that will tell us to what extent this [Storm] Dana will affect the holding of our next events with full guarantees."
Video footage on social media shows extensive damage to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, too, with the main entrance road to the track swept away and impassable. The minimoto track located near the main gate is also completely destroyed, and there are reports that the circuit’s external car parks have been flooded.
And, with MotoGP organisers Dorna unlikely to want to place local authorities under the added pressure of hosting a major sporting event expected to bring 100,000 people into the area while search and reconstruction efforts continue, it could well be that the final round of the championship is in danger.
That would mark the second time this season that extreme weather has caused the cancellation of a MotoGP race, after extensive flooding in the northern provinces of Kazakhstan saw what should have been the Sokol circuit’s inaugural race first get delayed before then being cancelled.
Should that be the case for Valencia, it means that a race against time is underway to try and find an alternate venue to conclude the season - something that may well prove impossible with only two weeks' notice, leaving the title rivals in an unprecedented situation as they go into this weekend’s penultimate round at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
It’s possible that other southern European circuits like Jerez or Portimao could potentially gear up in time to host a race with only two weeks’ notice, especially if it were to take place with a reduced number of guests and spectators, but still represents a not insignificant logistical hurdle that organisers are likely now preparing for.
The Race approached Dorna for comment but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.
Formula E working closely with circuit
Formula E's 2024-25 pre-season test was due to take place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo next week, before MotoGP's season-finale.
"Our thoughts go out to those affected by the extreme weather conditions in Spain. We are working closely with the local authorities and representatives of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia ahead of the scheduled FIA Formula E official test next week," a statement from Formula E read.
"Due to damage to the main access road caused by a burst river bank nearby, the circuit is currently inaccessible by vehicle. Four members of Formula E staff stayed at the circuit last night as a precaution, but are safe and able to transfer to and from the circuit by foot. Track conditions show no signs of damage, and we continue to assess garages and freight. Alternative access routes in and out of the circuit are currently being investigated.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates in due course."
